Karun Nair returned to India’s Test cricket fold with a bang after hitting a double-century vs the England Lions on May 31, 2025. Nair delivered an electrifying performance at St. Lawrence Ground, Canterbury to wow the audience and his teammates with fine hits throughout India A’s innings.
The 33-year-old’s long absence from competitive Test cricket seemed to have no effect on him as he roared to an emphatic 202 runs from 272 balls in the encounter. India A posted a comfortable 450+ margin thanks to Nair’s elegant batting abilities in the match.
Some analysts and sets of fans believe Nair’s performance during that encounter is enough to put him in contention for a permanent spot in India’s lineup. These unofficial permutations seem to favour Nair as a long-term option for the No. 5 batting spot as India attempts to navigate the post-Kohli and Sharma era in Test cricket.
How Did Nair Get His Double Hundred?
Nair last featured in India’s Test team during the 2019/20 season but failed to secure a starting place. Younger players usually got the nod ahead of him for several years before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced his inclusion in the India A squad on tour in England.
Day 2 at Canterbury began with India A batting during the morning session to register a 256/5 as a reply to England’s 312. Nair paired with talented wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel after the latter’s strong showing at IPL 2025 with the Lucknow Super Giants. Both players resumed at 63 for 4 in the 97th over, but Nair stole the show from there.
Nair ramps up hits from Over 101
Karun was up against English medium pace bowlers who aimed to deliver long balls at break-neck speeds to unsettle the batter. However, Nair remained resolute and showed adept movement to get runs off Eddie Jack and the England Lions squad during his stint.
The cricketer’s calm approach to aggressive English batting drew admiration from both sets of fans in attendance. A standing ovation followed as he stepped out of his crease after a potential career-boosting innings for the once shut-out batsman.
Nair’s Innings at a Glance
Session 1 (Over 97 to Lunch)
Karun bagged 75 runs after resuming at 63 to register his ability to handle early batting movements at Lunch on Day 2. Nair reached the lunch break at 115 for 5 after several remarkable late cuts coupled with strong drives to dismantle English bowling attacks.
Session 2 (After Lunch to Tea Break)
Nair returned after lunch to drive several spinners out of action with repeated smooth cover drive hits. He aimed to punish overpitching from the opposing side and raced to a remarkable 165 for 6 before tea.
Session 3 (After Tea Break to Close)
Karun focused while other batters struggled to make an impact. A flurry of hits from top players on the England Lions squad meant he had to remain vigilant to avoid getting caught out after tea. A set of expert cuts and at least one smooth flick for six runs ensured the cricketer bagged 202 runs after 272 balls directed at him. Nair finished this inspiring stint with 19 fours and 4 sixes.
Why is Nair an Ideal Fit for the No. 5 Position?
Undeniable First-Class experience
Karun delivered 853 runs in 9 games (54 av.) during the Ranji Trophy 2024/25. His remarkable tally included four centuries throughout the competition as Vidarbha secured their title after an easy victory against Kerala in the final.
He also delivered a notable performance at the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 with 779 runs in 8 innings (111.29 av.). His tally included five hundreds in this tournament and showcased Nair’s ability to boost run-scoring across innings with ease.
Test-suited batting
Nair shows decent front-foot play required to succeed in Test batting. His back foot input is also remarkable against spin bowlers. The experienced cricketer can deliver responses to invalidate spin attacks on various pitches.
Unreal handling of pressure
Younger batters usually seem unsettled by swing or seam balls, but not Karun. The experienced batter always appears calm under heavy pressure and often doesn’t celebrate in extravagant fashion whenever called upon to work his magic.
Nair’s pressure handling is coupled with remarkable respect for the Test format as he showed right after smashing 202 runs in timely fashion. India’s search for a steady player at No. 5 to join other important players like KL Rahul at No. 1 or Shubman Gill at No. 4 may be over. Nair seems like the best candidate to secure India’s Test No. 5 position with his impressive showing for India A.
